Columbus, MN – One of the featured events on the Thursday night (June 11) program at Running Aces was the $12,500 Burning Blaze pacing series final and heavy favorite Fox Valley Groupie did not disappoint her backers as she turned in another stellar performance to complete the series sweep and advance to 5-for-5 on the season.
The very sharp 4-year-old daughter of Somestarsomewhere was put into action immediately by driver Dean Magee and had to work hard during the opening quarter to win an early tussle with Ulla Law (driver Nick Roland), making the top just after the timer flashed :27 while Lemmiwinks (Josiah Miller) tracked along in third.
Magee rated the second panel to :29 seconds and Fox Valley Groupie settled into a nice rhythm down the backstretch with Ulla Law keeping close tabs in the pocket and both Lemmiwinks and Go Till Midnight (Scott Cisco) trying a third-quarter bid.
As they swung for home, Fox Valley Groupie kept to her task and Ulla Law tipped out for the drive, but Fox Valley Groupie fought gamely to the wire and held Ulla Law at bay by three-quarters of a length, stopping the timer at 1:52.4. Go Till Midnight was third best.
The winner is owned by Hart Walker and Jim Ballinger and is trained by Brett Ballinger. She now shows 10 career wins from 35 outings and has earned $90,509 to date. She paid $2.60 to win.
Premier Desirey dazzled in the $15,000 Mares Open pace for her third straight win, powering to a 2-3/4-length tally in a career best 1:51.1 with Rick Magee in the bike. Favorite K T Part E (Brady Jenson) was home second and Twist Little Girl N (Roland) rounded out the top three.
The winner, a daughter of Real Desire, is owned and trained by Harold Herrera. She returned $12.60 for a $2 win bet.
Cool Mr Cool, a son of Wind Me Up, delivered another huge performance in the $17,000 Minnesota-sired sophomore colts “A” pace for two in a row and a new lifetime mark in 1:52.4 over Wild About Me (Roland) and Whatevrittakes Two (Dean Magee).
Cool Mr Cool ($2.20) is owned by Kyle Larner, Jay DeLong and Terry Knothe and is trained by Justin Anfinson.
Starstruck Fool (Scott Cisco, $3.60) turned the tables on her chief rival Letitia (Dean Magee) to post her second win of the season in the $17,000 filly pace with a three-quarter-length tally in 1:55.1. Letitia was second best this week and big longshot Prone To Wander (Rick Magee) picked up third.
The winner is a daughter of Karpathian Kid and is owned by Jeri and Briar Roland and is trained by Dan Roland.
Bright Path (Nick Roland, $6.80) made it two in a row in the $8,500 sophomore “B” pace in a career-best 1:56.2 mile over Sd Babysharkdoodoo (Brian Detgen) and Al-Mar Easy Doesit (Rick Magee).
The winner is by Wind Me Up and is owned by Cathy Dessert and trained by Justin Anfinson.
Drivers Nick Roland and Dean Magee led the Thursday program with doubles while trainers Justin Anfinson and Harold Herrera also posted doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (June 14) with a 10-race program that offers a pair of carryovers including $1,023.79 for the race 4 Hi-5 wager and $13,544.02 for the Pick-5 Jackpot wager which starts in race 6. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).